A nurse is planning palliative care for a child with severe pain. Which should the nurse expect to be prescribed for pain relief?

A) Opioids as needed
B) Opioids on a regular schedule
C) Distraction and relaxation techniques
D) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Pain medications, for children in palliative care, should be given on a regular schedule, and extra doses for breakthrough pain should be available to maintain comfort. Opioid drugs such as morphine should be given for severe pain, and the dose should be increased as necessary to maintain optimal pain relief. Techniques such as distraction, relaxation techniques, and guided imagery should be combined with drug therapy to provide the child and family strategies to control pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not sufficient to manage severe pain for children in palliative care.